Trimming mechanism for automatic sewing machines



G. E. MOLYNEUX.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED-FEB. 2 191B.

rmmmme 1,403,5 8, Patented Jan. 17,1922.

3 SHEEI'SSHEET I.

INVENTOR A TTORNEYS V G. E. MOLYNEUX. TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINES. v AFFLICATION FILED FEB. 2, WW. I 1 49%51 Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. E. MOLYNEUX. TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC'SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 2. 1918.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHhETS-SHEET 3.

VIII

mvszmm W TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, 0F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed February 2, 1918. Serial No. 215,050.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayonne, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trimming Mechanism for Automatic Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In another application, Ser. No. 188,589, filed August 28, 1917, there is shown and described a machine for handling and stitching cloth blanks, in which each cloth blank to be operated upon is clamped upon a work table and is then stitched by a traveling sewing mechanism which is suitably guided.-

The stitching mechanism moves across the blank and then retires, the blank being then released from the clamps and removed. The

machine referred to is intended to operate at high speed and to have a great productive capacity. In order that these results may be secured and the operations be wholly automatic in character, it is necessary to provide means whereby the thread or threads with which the blank is stitched may be severed automatically and close to the fabric in each instance, both at the beginning and at the end of the stitching, so that no further trimming by hand shall be necessary. It 1s the object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for accomplishing this result and in accordance therewith there are provided two cutters which are adjustable with respect to each other, so as to accommodate blanks of different sizes, are movable out of the path of the stitchingmechanism, and are operated automatically, after the stitching operation has been completed, to sever the sewing thread or threads at each end of the line of stitching, close to the blank. The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illus trated as applied in connection with a traveling sewing mechanism such as that set forth in said application. In the drawings Figure 1 is a top view showing a worktable with the present improvements applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, with parts in section so as to show details of construction.

Figure 3 is a detail view in section on the plane indicated bythe line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showmg part cularly the cam for moving the cut- E ng devices into and out of operating posi- Figure 4 is a detail view in sect-ion on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1, looklng in the direction of the arrows, showlng particularly the cutting device at one end and 1ts co-operating air-blast.

Figure 5 is'a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

looking in the direction of the arrows, showmg the same cutting device.

Figure 6 is a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 66 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, a work-table n, such as that referred to in said application, is shown as having a slot at to guide the; stitching mechanism (shown in part at p in Figure 1) in conformity with the desired line of stitching of the-blank a which may be clamped, by clamping devices indicated 'at p, upon the work-table as explained in said applica- -tion.

' The sides of this slot are preferably beveled or chamfered off, as shown at n in Figure 4. The stitching mechanism p not necessary to be shown in detail herein, since it forms no part of the present invention, traverses the work-table, from right to left in Figure 1, being guided by the slot n. Whether a single thread mechanism or a double thread mechanism is used, it is preferably arranged to chain the sewing thread because when chained the thread may be operated upon with more certainty by the cutting devices.

In suitable bearings n at oneside of the work-table, is mounted an oscillating shaft 6 and in other bearings 02* is mounted a parallel shaft 0. The latter is provided with a suitable driving wheel d, through which it may be driven in proper timed relation to the travel of the sewing mechanism by any suitable connections. The shaft is also provided with a grooved face cam e, and with a grooved edge cam f, the latter being preferably mounted adjustably on the sins it. as by a set screw f, so as to accommodate different sizes of blanks to be trimmed.

()n the oscillating shaft 1) are mounted two cutting devices, one for each end of the hub g, as by a single clamping screw 9 so as to permit the ready adjustment or replacement, is an arm h on the end of which are pivoted, as at h, the two members W, h", of a pair of shears, held normally open by a spring h. A

The shaft 1) is arranged to be oscillated from the cam e by an arm 6' on the shaft Z), which carries a pin or roller 1) entering the groove 6 of the cam. The cam groove is of such shape that at the proper time, that is, immediately after the close of the stitching operation, the shears If, k, previously held up, out of the path of the stitching mechanlsm, are cause to approach the work-table and the blades to enter the slot n and there by caused to close and sever, close to the blank, the thread which projects from the blank betweenthe blades. The shear blades are inclined, as shown in Figure 5, so that the points of the blades shall certainly clear the fabric a while the severing of the thread close to the blank is accomplished by the closing of the shears.

The other pair of shears to sever the thread at the other end of the line of stitchmg is similar in general-arrangement and operation to the pair already described. This second pair is carried by a hublc which is mounted on the shaft 6 so as to oscillate therewith but to slide th'ereon, as hereinafterdescribed. The arm 70 of the hub 71 supports adjustably and removably an arm Z which has pivoted thereon, as before, the blades Z and Z of a second pair of shears held 'normally open by a I spring Z and adapted to be closed, as before, by cooperation with the sides of the slot n when the shaft b is oscillated so as to cause the ends of the blades to enter the slot. As this second pair of shears must cut the thread be- 1 tween the fabric and the needle of the sewing 'mechanism, provision must be made whereby this pair of shears can be moved into operating position immediately after the stitching mechanism has passed that operating poqition. Accordingly, the hub is "(being conveniently made in two parts) is grooved circum'ferentially, as at k and is embraced by a collar m which is supported 3y an arm m which is guided on he shaft 0.

he arm m also carries a pin or roller m which enters the groove f of the cam f, whereby-the shears 1 P receive at theproper time a longitudinal movement as well as a movement of oscillation and are brought into operating position between the fabric after the sewing mechanism has passed such operating position. The thread at this time is held stretched by the sewing mechanism and is therefore in proper position to be severed by the shear b ades as they are brought together by the sides of'the slot n.

When the thread is severed at the close of the stitching operation, close to the fabric, there is left connected to the needle a short length of chained thread. At the beginning of the next stitching operation this short length of chained thread, being loose, might hang down from the edge of the fabric after the stitching is commenced and so escape the shears If, k at their next operation. It is therefore necessary to provide means whereby this short length of thread shall stand out from the fabric in position to be severed. For this purpose an air-blasti is provided. As shown a nozzle 0 supplied with air under pressure from any suitable source, sufliclently indicated by a flexible tube 0, is

pivotally mounted on the underside of the table n on a black 37* which is held by a screw p inserted through a slot a so as to permit the position of the blast nozzle to be adjusted with the shears 72.", h to accommodate difierent sizes of blanks'. The nozzle 0 is held yieldingly in central position by springs 0 so that when the sewing mechanism advances the blast nozzle will be pushed aside by the guide pin which enters the slot 71 and will immediately thereafter return to normal position, so that when the shears operate, this loose length of thread shall be held in a horizontal position by the air-blast.

It will be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made to suit different conditions of use and that the invention is not restricted to the particular construction shown and described herein except so far as may be pointed out in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination ofa work-table, a sewing mechanism, a thread cutting device compris ing a normally open pair of shear blades and means to move the cutting device, in a direction substantially at right'angles to the plane of the work, into operating position adjacent to the edge of the work, the shear blades being in a plane inclined with respect to the direction of movement so that the points shall clear the work and the blades cut loose to the edge of the work.

2. In' a machine of the character described, the combination of a work-table, a sewing mechanism, means to cause a free floating end ofthe sewing thread to stand out from the work, a thread cutting device normally out of operating position and means to move the cutting device into operating position and 31188 it to act upon the thread.

3. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a work-table, a sewing mechanism, means to direct an air-blast against the sewing thread to cause it to stand out from the work, a thread cutting device normally out of operating position and means to move the cutting device into operating position and cause it to act upon the thread.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a sewing mechanism relatively movable to sew along the slot, a thread cutting device comprising a normally open pair of shears, and means to move the cutting device into operating position and to cause the points of the shear blades to enter the slot in the work-table and to be closed. thereby.

5. 'In a machine of the character described, the combination. of a slotted work-' table, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot of the work-table, a thread cutting device normally out of operating position, means to move the thread cutting device into operating position and to cause it to act upon the thread, and an air-blast nozzle adapted to cause the thread to stand out from the edge of the work and yieldingly supported in the path of movement of the sewing mechanism.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a work-table, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism, a thread cutting device normally out of operating position and movable independently of the mechanism, and means to move the cutting device into the path of movement of the sewing mechanism into operating position and to cause it to act upon the thread.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a work-table, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism, a thread cutting device at each end of the path of the sewing mechanism normally out of operating position and movable independently of the sewing mechanism, and means to move both of the cutting devices into the path of movement of the sewing mechanism into operating position and to cause them to act upon the thread.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, an arm on said shaft, normally open shears carried by said arm, and means to oscillate said shaft to cause the shears to move into operating position and into contact with the work-table to be closed thereby.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a

sewing-.

traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, an arm on said shaft, a cutting device carried by said arm, means to oscillate said shaft to cause the cutting device to move into operating position after'the passage of the sewing mechanism, and means to move said arm longitudinally with respect to the shaft to cause the cutting device to follow the sewing mechanism as the cutting device moves to operating position.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted workta-ble, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, arms on said shaft,

. normally open shears carried by said arms respectively, and means tlo oscillate said shaft to cause the shears to move into operating positions and into 'contact with the work-table to be closed thereby at the beginning and the end of the line of sewing respectively.

11. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, arms on said shaft, normally open shears carried by said arms respectively, means to oscillate said shaft to cause the shears to move into operating positions, and into contact with the work-table to be closed thereby at the beginning and the end of the line of sewing respectively and means to secure one of said arms in adjusted position on said shaft.-

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold thework thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, arms on said shaft, cutting devices carried by said arms respectively, means to oscillate said shaft to cause the cutting devices to move into operating positions at the beginning and theend of the line of sewing respectively, one of said arms being movable longitudinally on said shaft, and means to move said arm longitudinally on the shaft as its'cutting de vice is moved to operating position.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a work-table, means to hold the work thereon, a sewing mechanism, a thread cutting device normally out of operating position, means to move the thread cutting device into operating position to cause it to act upon. the thread, anair-blast nozzle adapted to cause the thread to standout horizontally from the edge of the work, and means to secure the air-blast nozzle adjustably to the table.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a work support and sewing mechanism relatively movable to sew a seam across a piece of work held on the iii support, means'for severing the thread between the sewing mechanism and work at the completion of the seam and for trimming the waste end at the initial end of the seam.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a work support and sewing mechanism relatively movable to sew a seam beginning and terminating at different points on the edge of 'a piece of work held on the support, and means for I trimming the thread at both ends of the seam at the com letion thereof.

16. In a machine of'the class described, the combination of a Work support and sewing mechanism relatively movable to sew a seam beginning and terminating at different points on the edge of'a piece of' work held on the support, thread cutting devices, and means for actuating the devices at the completion of the seam to sever the thread close to the edge of the work at both ends of the seam.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a work support and sewing mechanism relatively movable to sew a seam beginning and terminating at different points on the edge of a piece of work held on the support, thread cutting devices, means for actuating the devices at the completion of the seam to sever the thread at both ends of the seam, and means whereby the devices may be adjusted to act close to the edge of pieces of different sizes.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a work support, sewing mechanism mounted to travel along a piece of work held on the support, two thread cutters mounted independently of the sewing mechanism to act at points on the support corresponding to the beginning and termination of the seam and mechanism for actuating the thread cutters.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a. work table, a sewing mechanism, means for causin a free floating end of the sewing threa to stand out from the work and a cutter for severing said thread.

20. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a work support, means for causing a free floating end of thread at the edge of the work to stand out from the work and a thread cutter for severing said thread.

21. In a machine of the character described the combination of a work-table, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism, a thread cutting device at each end of the path of the sewing mechanism normally out of operating position, and means to move both of the cutting devices into operating position and to cause them to act upon the thread.

22. In a, machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a

traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, arms on said shaft, cutting devices carried 'by said arms respectively, and means to oscillate said shaft to cause the cutting devices to move into operating position at the beginningand the end of the line of sewing respectively.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a slotted worktable, means to hold the work thereon, a traveling sewing mechanism guided by the slot, an oscillating shaft, arms on said shaft, cutting devices carried by said arms respectively, means to oscillate said shaft to cause the cutting devices to move into operating positions at the beginning and the end of the line of sewing respectively and means to secure one of said arms in adjusted position on said shaft.

This specification signed this 29th January, A. D. 19.18.

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX.

day of 

